a rainy trail lined with trees

Trail Conditions

(Nadine Levin)
Back to top

ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE IS THE MOST CURRENT AVAILABLE. 

Trail conditions can vary depending on the time of year, the impact of rain and storms, construction and maintenance and other occurrences. Please be aware that trail closures may change from day to day without notice, based on current and predicted weather conditions. During winter storm season, high waters can make creek crossings hazardous, so plan your outing accordingly. Hazardous conditions occasionally elicit FULL preserve closures. Please check individual preserve pages for a status update on each preserve. Trail closures are strictly enforced.

Bicyclists and equestrians: To prevent trail damage, please avoid riding dirt trails while it is raining or right after larger storms where there is a lot of standing/running water on the trails. 

2023 Storm Damage Repair

We appreciate everyone’s patience as Midpen staff work to reopen temporarily closed areas by repairing extensive recent storm damage. Some hard-hit areas will take time. We are prioritizing work to reopen public and emergency access as soon as possible. 

The vast majority of Midpen’s 250-miles of trail remain open daily free of charge. We encourage you to visit openspace.org/preserves to explore the many miles of currently open trails while you may be waiting for other areas to be safely repaired and reopened.  

To maximize a safe, enjoyable visit to a Midpen preserve, check the trail conditions below and prepare ahead by visiting openspace.org/know-before.

Bear Creek Redwoods

  • From Monday, September 25 through Wednesday, September 27, Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve will be CLOSED. Santa Clara County will be performing road tread maintenance and will close Bear Creek Road, from Highway 17 to Summit Road. Residents and people associated with Bear Creek Stables will be allowed to pass through.

Cloverdale Ranch

  • No reported trail closures.

Coal Creek

  • Lower Alpine Road Trail is CLOSED for repairs between paved Alpine Road and Clouds Rest Trail. It is expected to reopen in winter, 2023. There is no through access on Alpine Road Trail between Portola Valley and Page Mill Road or Skyline Blvd. Find out more here. 

El Corte de Madera Creek

  • Methuselah Trail, from Giant Salamander Trail to South Leaf Trail, is CLOSED to equestrians due to trail damage

El Sereno

  • No reported trail closures.

Foothills

  • No reported trail closures.

Fremont Older

The following trails may be closed to bicycle and equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • ​​​​​Wedding Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
  • Toyon Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.

La Honda Creek

  • Grasshopper Loop Trail is seasonally CLOSED to dogs August 1 through December 15 during cattle calving season. The trail remains open year-round for hiking. 

The following trail may be closed to hiking and equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Folger Ranch Loop Trail is OPEN to hikers and equestrians.

Long Ridge

The following trails may be closed to bicycle and equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Chestnut Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
  • Long Ridge Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
  • Peters Creek Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.

 

Los Trancos

  • No reported trail closures.

Miramontes Ridge

  • This preserve is closed to the public.

Monte Bello

  • No reported trail closures.

The following trails may be closed to bicycle and equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Skid Road Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.
  • Stevens Creek Nature Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians between Skid Road and Canyon Trail.
  • White Oak Trail is OPEN to bicyclists and equestrians.

Picchetti Ranch

  • No reported trail closures.

Purisima Creek Redwoods

  • Lower access to Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is CLOSED to all users due to storm damage to access roads: There is no parking or walk-in access at the Purisima Creek Road/Higgins Canyon Road trailhead at this time to allow clear access for emergency staff and residents.
  • Due to significant storm damage, the entire preserve is CLOSED to horses.
  • Whittemore Gulch Trail is CLOSED to bikes and horses.
  • Be advised there may be additional trail damage and downed trees in the preserve. 

View full map

Rancho San Antonio

  • No reported trail closures.

 

Ravenswood

  • No reported trail closures.

Russian Ridge

  • No reported trail closures.

Saratoga Gap

  • No reported trail closures.

Sierra Azul

  • No reported trail closures.

Skyline Ridge

  • Segments around Alpine Pond, including Sunny Jim Trail, Ipiwa Trail and Alpine Pond Loop, will be closed 7am-- 4pm starting September 19th through the end of the month for mastication work.
Alpine Pond Trail Closure

St. Joseph's Hill

  • A segment of the Range Trail between the Novitiate and Brothers Bypass Trails will be CLOSED Wednesday, September 13 through Friday, September 15 and Monday, September 18 through Friday, September 22 for trail repair work. Please follow trail signage for detour information.
    Map of St. Josephs Hill Preserve showing segment of Range Trail closure 9.11.2023

Click to enlarge

Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Area

  • No reported trail closures.

Teague Hill

  • No reported trail closures.

Thornewood

  • Bridle Trail is CLOSED to equestrians due to storm damage.
  • Bridle Trail advisory: Crossing Dennis Martin Creek is not advised during high water events.

Tunitas Creek

  • This preserve is closed to the public.

Windy Hill

  • Razorback Ridge Trail and Lost Trail south of Hamms Gulch Trail are CLOSED to equestrians until Spring 2024 to allow for trail repair work to over-winter.
  • On Saturday, August 23 the Lower Windy Hill Parking Area will be INACCESSIBLE in or out from 9:45am to 11:00am due to a road closure on Portola Road for the Zotts to Tots Run. Visitors who arrive earlier will need to wait for the road to reopen to leave.

The following trails may be closed to equestrian use during wet conditions.

  • Betsy Crowder Trail is OPEN to equestrians.
  • Hamms Gulch Trail is OPEN to equestrians.
  • Lost Trail south of Hamms Gulch is CLOSED to equestrians.
  • Razorback Ridge Trail is CLOSED to equestrians

Sign up for our newsletter to find out what’s happening in your open space!